Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who lost out at the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held at the weekend in Abuja, has returned to secure his ticket for a second term in office.

This followed the withdrawal of Alhaji Ibrahim Kashim, who had earlier emerged as the governorship candidate, from the race.

His withdrawal from the race was announced by the party’s spokesman, Malam Yayanuwa Zainabari, at a news conference in Bauchi on Tuesday.

Zainabari, however, said the governorship candidate withdrew from the race for personal reasons, adding that the PDP would replace Kashim with another competent, loyal and qualified member either through a fresh primary election or through affirmation as required by the party’s Constitution and the relevant laws.

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“We shall make our position known within this week.

“The only option left for the party is to forward the name of his replacement to INEC for proper documentation,” he said.

Kashim, who is the immediate past Secretary to the Government of Bauchi State, had polled 655 votes from the 656 delegates that participated at the governorship primary election held in the state last week.

Governor Mohammed, however, failed to secure the PDP presidential ticket, losing to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who emerged as the party’s presidential candidate with 371 votes.

The governor, who polled 20 votes at the PDP presidential primaries, is now set to become the party’s gubernatorial candidate in Bauchi State ahead of the 2023 general election.

The Star